Summer swim team: Division A vs L team

[Anonymous]

We are division N and I love it lol.
My non club swimmer swam in most of the A meets. There’s a real sense on camaraderie on the team between the kids and coaches. It’s a small team. We’re getting a new coach this summer so no idea how the coaching will be though.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been a head coach in both and now am a swim parent.

A kid who would be the high point swimmer in his/her age group in L Division may barely sniff an A meet in A or B Division. It’s a numbers game… the teams in the higher divisions by and large are stocked with year round swimmers. They are often bigger in numbers but not always. But even if small, always stocked with year-round swimmers. Just look at the Long Course and All Star Programs and you’ll see the same pools represented over and over (and don’t get me started on Rockville which shouldn’t be allowed to compete in MCSL as it’s basically just an RMSC short course summer site).

Also, upper division teams tend to draw kids from a wider geographic area as folks tend to join a pool for the swim team. Lower division teams tend to be much more narrowly populated by the specific neighborhood and schools where the pool is located.

Same amount of “fun” in both upper and lower divisions in terms of social activities, pasta nights, movie days, etc. But if really spirited competitive meets is part of the fun you’re looking for, you’ll find that more in the highest divisions because the meets feel (and are) much more high stakes and populated by kids who know each other from year-round swim. But the B meets are simply BRUTAL. Lower divisions may have sleepier Saturday morning meets (but folks still want the win). But you’ll be done by 8:00 on Wednesday. Which is not yet halftime for Wednesday meets for upper division teams.

Signed,
Former MCSL Head Coach who thinks it was the greatest job ever

[Anonymous]

OP here. Not really shopping for a swim team except that our kids attend a school that is mot in our community. They go to a school where the majority of their friends participate in a division A swim team.

Going to A meets is not really the goal here. We are looking for fun and a great community and hopefully a more put together swim team. The issue for us is that because we don’t belong to the pool that this division A meets, we need to pay additional $600 in addition to the swim team fees. Trying to justify that it is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We participated in our community swim team last year. It was our first time. The head coach was fired after the first week. The team did not seem well-run at all. They don’t have a lot of volunteers and the coaches were not very good either.

If we were to join a Division A team, would our experience be different?

Those things you’ve listed can happen in any division. Perhaps the only difference is the teams are likely large so there won’t (or shouldn’t) be a shortage of volunteers. Coaches are loved by some and not by others.

What’s your goal in switching divisions? There are fast swimmers in lower divisions and slow swimmers in higher ones.

[Anonymous]

You can say it’s about technique and not about competition but that’s a lie. Summer swim is about the team. The team scores points and they want to win! Everyone waits for the score at the end and there is yelling and screaming. Teams want to win and there is a competitive spirit. Someone is in denial.

[Anonymous]

You might want to consider one of the the six MCSL teams that are run by the county and do not require pool membership: Bethesda Barracudas (Div B), Germantown Torpedoes (Div I), Glenmont Gators (Div J), Long Branch Water Wizards (Div K), Poolesville Piranhas (Div I) and the Upper County Dolphins (Div O).

We love the Barracudas. Yes, there are fast swimmers. But it's welcoming of all levels of swimmers and is great fun.

[Anonymous]

My kid ds are year round swimmers, have made the MCLS All Star meet, etc but I’m glad we’re not Division A. The things we enjoy about summer swim is camaraderie, multi-age friendships, cheering on the kid who may never make an A meet - or breaks into an A-meet for the first time. I feel like teams in the middle divisions have more of that. Summer swim for us is about community, joys of childhood, and learning experiences. You can get that at any level, but may not be able to get that at the highest levels if the focus is only on performance. Club swim is where you go if you really want to develop as a person, not a swimmer (and those summer leagues in the A division are there bc a lot of the team does year round club, not because the summer coach is superior).

[Anonymous]

Would recommend you join the pool close to your neighborhood. The kids on the team mostly go to school together, and if not- know each other from the neighborhood. Regardless of what division you are in, having kids walk/bike/live close to the pool is ideal, especially as they get a bit older and can get to the pool independently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a head coach in both and now am a swim parent.

A kid who would be the high point swimmer in his/her age group in L Division may barely sniff an A meet in A or B Division. It’s a numbers game… the teams in the higher divisions by and large are stocked with year round swimmers. They are often bigger in numbers but not always. But even if small, always stocked with year-round swimmers. Just look at the Long Course and All Star Programs and you’ll see the same pools represented over and over (and don’t get me started on Rockville which shouldn’t be allowed to compete in MCSL as it’s basically just an RMSC short course summer site).

Also, upper division teams tend to draw kids from a wider geographic area as folks tend to join a pool for the swim team. Lower division teams tend to be much more narrowly populated by the specific neighborhood and schools where the pool is located.

Same amount of “fun” in both upper and lower divisions in terms of social activities, pasta nights, movie days, etc. But if really spirited competitive meets is part of the fun you’re looking for, you’ll find that more in the highest divisions because the meets feel (and are) much more high stakes and populated by kids who know each other from year-round swim. But the B meets are simply BRUTAL. Lower divisions may have sleepier Saturday morning meets (but folks still want the win). But you’ll be done by 8:00 on Wednesday. Which is not yet halftime for Wednesday meets for upper division teams.

Signed,
Former MCSL Head Coach who thinks it was the greatest job ever

yo.. former mcsl head coach of stonegate, still bitter

[Anonymous]

I don’t think this sounds like bitterness. It’s an honest assessment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a head coach in both and now am a swim parent.

A kid who would be the high point swimmer in his/her age group in L Division may barely sniff an A meet in A or B Division. It’s a numbers game… the teams in the higher divisions by and large are stocked with year round swimmers. They are often bigger in numbers but not always. But even if small, always stocked with year-round swimmers. Just look at the Long Course and All Star Programs and you’ll see the same pools represented over and over (and don’t get me started on Rockville which shouldn’t be allowed to compete in MCSL as it’s basically just an RMSC short course summer site).

Also, upper division teams tend to draw kids from a wider geographic area as folks tend to join a pool for the swim team. Lower division teams tend to be much more narrowly populated by the specific neighborhood and schools where the pool is located.

Same amount of “fun” in both upper and lower divisions in terms of social activities, pasta nights, movie days, etc. But if really spirited competitive meets is part of the fun you’re looking for, you’ll find that more in the highest divisions because the meets feel (and are) much more high stakes and populated by kids who know each other from year-round swim. But the B meets are simply BRUTAL. Lower divisions may have sleepier Saturday morning meets (but folks still want the win). But you’ll be done by 8:00 on Wednesday. Which is not yet halftime for Wednesday meets for upper division teams.

Signed,
Former MCSL Head Coach who thinks it was the greatest job ever

yo.. former mcsl head coach of stonegate, still bitter

The coach that has been at stonegate through all of their rivalries with Rockville is still there and has been at stonegate forever. So literally can’t be a bitter stonegate former head coach. Also he’s a great coach that has built a great neighborhood team. More than Rockville can say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a head coach in both and now am a swim parent.

A kid who would be the high point swimmer in his/her age group in L Division may barely sniff an A meet in A or B Division. It’s a numbers game… the teams in the higher divisions by and large are stocked with year round swimmers. They are often bigger in numbers but not always. But even if small, always stocked with year-round swimmers. Just look at the Long Course and All Star Programs and you’ll see the same pools represented over and over (and don’t get me started on Rockville which shouldn’t be allowed to compete in MCSL as it’s basically just an RMSC short course summer site).

Also, upper division teams tend to draw kids from a wider geographic area as folks tend to join a pool for the swim team. Lower division teams tend to be much more narrowly populated by the specific neighborhood and schools where the pool is located.

Same amount of “fun” in both upper and lower divisions in terms of social activities, pasta nights, movie days, etc. But if really spirited competitive meets is part of the fun you’re looking for, you’ll find that more in the highest divisions because the meets feel (and are) much more high stakes and populated by kids who know each other from year-round swim. But the B meets are simply BRUTAL. Lower divisions may have sleepier Saturday morning meets (but folks still want the win). But you’ll be done by 8:00 on Wednesday. Which is not yet halftime for Wednesday meets for upper division teams.

Signed,
Former MCSL Head Coach who thinks it was the greatest job ever

yo.. former mcsl head coach of stonegate, still bitter

The coach that has been at stonegate through all of their rivalries with Rockville is still there and has been at stonegate forever. So literally can’t be a bitter stonegate former head coach. Also he’s a great coach that has built a great neighborhood team. More than Rockville can say.

Stonegate’s coach is the consummate professional. He can coach at a high level and he understands that summer league should be fun and about building a family like environment. Far more genuine than the Rockville coach who pretends he’s not their coach but recruits new swimmers and feverishly works behind the scenes to ensure his rmsc site looks good for 7 Saturdays a year

[Anonymous]

lol Stonegate parents are so intense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a head coach in both and now am a swim parent.

A kid who would be the high point swimmer in his/her age group in L Division may barely sniff an A meet in A or B Division. It’s a numbers game… the teams in the higher divisions by and large are stocked with year round swimmers. They are often bigger in numbers but not always. But even if small, always stocked with year-round swimmers. Just look at the Long Course and All Star Programs and you’ll see the same pools represented over and over (and don’t get me started on Rockville which shouldn’t be allowed to compete in MCSL as it’s basically just an RMSC short course summer site).

Also, upper division teams tend to draw kids from a wider geographic area as folks tend to join a pool for the swim team. Lower division teams tend to be much more narrowly populated by the specific neighborhood and schools where the pool is located.

Same amount of “fun” in both upper and lower divisions in terms of social activities, pasta nights, movie days, etc. But if really spirited competitive meets is part of the fun you’re looking for, you’ll find that more in the highest divisions because the meets feel (and are) much more high stakes and populated by kids who know each other from year-round swim. But the B meets are simply BRUTAL. Lower divisions may have sleepier Saturday morning meets (but folks still want the win). But you’ll be done by 8:00 on Wednesday. Which is not yet halftime for Wednesday meets for upper division teams.

Signed,
Former MCSL Head Coach who thinks it was the greatest job ever

yo.. former mcsl head coach of stonegate, still bitter

The coach that has been at stonegate through all of their rivalries with Rockville is still there and has been at stonegate forever. So literally can’t be a bitter stonegate former head coach. Also he’s a great coach that has built a great neighborhood team. More than Rockville can say.

You guys are so competitive while claiming it's all about fun. What rivalry? Looks like Rockville has been dominating.

It is great that you guys have access to a neighborhood pool. Rockville Rays is providing access to many swimmers who don't have access to local pool. This is unlike other county's pool like germantown, bethesda etc. I think it's the right thing to do. Summer swim should be accessible to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a head coach in both and now am a swim parent.

A kid who would be the high point swimmer in his/her age group in L Division may barely sniff an A meet in A or B Division. It’s a numbers game… the teams in the higher divisions by and large are stocked with year round swimmers. They are often bigger in numbers but not always. But even if small, always stocked with year-round swimmers. Just look at the Long Course and All Star Programs and you’ll see the same pools represented over and over (and don’t get me started on Rockville which shouldn’t be allowed to compete in MCSL as it’s basically just an RMSC short course summer site).

Also, upper division teams tend to draw kids from a wider geographic area as folks tend to join a pool for the swim team. Lower division teams tend to be much more narrowly populated by the specific neighborhood and schools where the pool is located.

Same amount of “fun” in both upper and lower divisions in terms of social activities, pasta nights, movie days, etc. But if really spirited competitive meets is part of the fun you’re looking for, you’ll find that more in the highest divisions because the meets feel (and are) much more high stakes and populated by kids who know each other from year-round swim. But the B meets are simply BRUTAL. Lower divisions may have sleepier Saturday morning meets (but folks still want the win). But you’ll be done by 8:00 on Wednesday. Which is not yet halftime for Wednesday meets for upper division teams.

Signed,
Former MCSL Head Coach who thinks it was the greatest job ever

yo.. former mcsl head coach of stonegate, still bitter

The coach that has been at stonegate through all of their rivalries with Rockville is still there and has been at stonegate forever. So literally can’t be a bitter stonegate former head coach. Also he’s a great coach that has built a great neighborhood team. More than Rockville can say.

You guys are so competitive while claiming it's all about fun. What rivalry? Looks like Rockville has been dominating.

It is great that you guys have access to a neighborhood pool. Rockville Rays is providing access to many swimmers who don't have access to local pool. This is unlike other county's pool like germantown, bethesda etc. I think it's the right thing to do. Summer swim should be accessible to everyone.

for the majority of rockville rays swimmers, it has to do with convenience and not cost. dont be naive. they swim there because certain coaches at rmsc encourage them to swim there and not their local community pool. which is unfortunate when your typical neighborhood mcsl team has way more fun and community than rockville.